Polish MEP Bronislaw Geremek has refused to sign yet another declaration that he never collaborated with the Communist security services in Poland, which could lead to the revocation of his MEP status. He has signed many such declarations in the past and his refusal to sign yet another declaration is motivated by moral grounds. “ELDR is proud that Mr Geremek, a leading historical figure and opponent to the communist regime, has taken a symbolic stance against the new law which could cause problems to journalists and academics. The Liberal Democrats all over Europe, support Mr Geremek in his opposition to the lustration law,” commented Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President. Read more ...

France is heading for a historic presidential election on Sunday in a context of high unemployment, low growth and fear of globalization. Ahead of this crucial vote for France and Europe, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party voices its support for centrist candidate François Bayrou.“We are living a defining moment for Europe as the French President’s priorities and ways of conducting business will have repercussions for the whole continent. With his credible reformist agenda, his European engagement and his will to bring people together, François Bayrou is the only candidate able to reform France and to create a better future for France and Europe,” said Annemie Neyts, MEP, ¨President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party.François Bayrou is a firm supporter of a Federal Europe. In 2004, he participated in the launch of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the third biggest parliamentary group in the European Parliament. With the ALDE Group, Europe’s Liberals and Democrats work together for a Europe able to foster individual liberty, a free and dynamic business culture, economic and social solidarity, environmental protection and respect and tolerance for cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. Leading European Liberal Democrat politicians, such as Prime Ministers Anders Fogh Ramussen, Matti Vanhanen and Andrus Ansip, have demonstrated that the liberal democrat approach for a highly competitive economy paves the way for more and better jobs and enables citizens and companies to reap the benefits of globalization, which is just what France needs today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56.Note to the editor: The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 51 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

 On Friday 13th April, more than 100 delegates representing the liberal democrat parties of Europe heard Romanian Prime Minister Calin Pospescu Tariceanu present how Romania views its role in the EU. Speaking at the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party Council in Zagreb, Croatia, he called for a strengthened and more complete European neighbourhood policy (ENP) to ensure stability, good governance and social and economic development for the EU neighbours. “ Romania does not believe in closing doors for neighbour countries. We are in favour of an ENP +”, he said. Read more ...

 During a major conference on the experiences of South East Europe with the European Union held in Zagreb, Croatia on 14th April, European Liberal Democrats discussed Croatia's path to the EU, the stabilisation of Serbia and the future status of Kosovo. In the welcoming words, the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesič told participants that Croatia has made the European values her values and greatly contributed to peace and stability in the region through dialogue and reconciliation with her neighbours.  Read more ...

 ELDR Party Press release  12 April 2007    Europe’s Liberal Democrats to hold major debate on the EU integration of South East-Europe in Zagreb, Croatia  More than 100 Liberal Democrats from all over Europe will gather in Zagreb, Croatia on 13-14 April 2007 to attend the Council of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party. A press conference will take place on 14th April from 13.15 to 13.45 at The Regent Esplanade Hotel. On 13th April, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, MEP, ELDR Party President and Vesna Pusić, MP, Leader of Croatia People's Party - Liberal Democrats (HNS), ELDR Party Vice-President will lead the Council political debate which will focus on the ELDR activities regarding the hurdles to democracy in Russia, the liberalization of postal services and Europe as a global partner. Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu will present the experience of EU Integration of Romania, one of the newest EU member states and Zlatko Kramaric, MP, Deputy President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) will introduce the political situation in Croatia. A major conference on the EU integration of South East-Europe, jointly organised by ELDR and HNS, will gather the representatives of Europe’s Liberal Democrat political parties and liberal democrat leaders from Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia on 14th April. Stjepan Mesić, President of Croatia will open the conference by giving an account of Croatia’s march towards the EU. Vesna Pusić, Radimir Čačić, Governor of Varaždin County, HNS Assembly of Delegates President and Ivan Jakovcic, IDS Leader, Governor Istria County will then present the process experienced by Croatia as a candidate state in the process of accession negotiations. The round table will end with debate on the stabilization of the region, with a focus on Serbia and the status of Kosovo. Ambassador Albert Rohan, United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Kosovo, Sonja Biserko, President of Serbian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Gjerg Dedaj, MP Kosovo Assembly, Leader of Liberal Party of Kosovo and Čedomir Jovanović, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party of Serbia, Member of Serbian Parliament will present the way forward for the negotiations to lead to a peaceful and satisfactory outcome for all parties involved. This two-day event will be attended by a number of other key liberal personalities in Europe, including:- Sharon Bowles, MEP and Robert Woodthorpe-Browne, Chairman International Relations Committee of the UK Liberal Democrats - Adrian Cioroianu, Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister (PNL, Romania) and Cristian David, Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform, Cristian Busoi, MP- Regimantas Ciupaila, Deputy Minister of Interior for the Lithuanian Liberal Center Union- Ivan Cehok, President of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS)- Lena Ek, MEP for the Swedish Centre Party (Centerpartiet) - Simone Filippini, future Ambassador of the Netherlands in Macedonia, member of the Dutch social-liberal party (D66) - Anneli Jäätteenmäki, MEP and former Prime Minister of Finland (Centre party, Finland) - John Higgins, Secretary General of the Irish Progressive Democrats- Jelko Kacin, MEP and Party Leader of the Liberal Democrat party of Slovenia (LDS) - Margarita Kaneva, MP for the National Movement Simeon II (Bulgaria) - Markus Löning, Christian Ahrendt, Elke Hoff, Werner Hoyer, Michael Link, Marina Schuster, MPs and Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, MEP for the German Liberal Democrat party (FDP) - Jovan Manasijevski, Political Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party of Macedonia, MP- Silver Meikar, MP for the Estonian Reform Party- Kadri Must, Secretary General of the Center Party of Estonia, MP- Jirina Novakova, Chair of the Czech Liberal party (ODA)- Ellen Trane Nørby, MP for the Danish Liberal party (Venstre) and Chair of the EU Affairs committee in the Danish Parliament- Giuseppe Ossorio, MP for Italia dei Valori - Lamija Tanovic, President of the Liberal Democrat Party of Bosnia- Serafim Urechean, Leader Alianta Moldova Noastra, MP- Cecilia Wigström, Karin Granbom, Fredrik Malm, Mauricio Rojas, MPs for the Swedish Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) - Roger Albinyana, President of the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) ------------------------------------------------------Participants of the ELDR Party Council and Conference on the EU integration of South Eastern Europe will be available for interviews throughout the two-day event.Journalists wishing to obtain more information about the event can contact:Myriam Cornillet, ELDR Party Press officer, on + 32 485 99 40 56, email: mcornillet@eldr.orgOr Nikolina Herceg, HNS Press officer, on +385 91 4111 034, email: nikolina.herceg@hns.hr   Read more ...